On the edge.... Heritage Flight Conference

And by on the edge I really mean on the edge of insanity because of the HUGE numbers of images one could obtain during the weekend. I was able to attend only Friday and Saturday and this is a listing of what flew and in what combination (excluding solo demonstrations):

Friday March 4

F-22 Raptor- 09-4127FF
P-51 Mustang- "February"

F-4 Phantom II- 74-1627 HD
P-38 Lightning- "Thoughts of Midnight"

F-4 Phantom II- 74-1638 TD
P-51 Mustang- "Bum Steer"

A-10 Thunderbolt II- FT
P-51 Mustang- "Fragile but Agile"

F-16 Fighting Falcon- 89-2083 HL
P-40 Warhawk- Planes of Fame 79

F-4 Phantom II- 71-2373 TD
P-51 Mustang- Bum Steer
F-22 Raptor- 09-4172 FF

F-4 Phantom II- 74-1627 HD
P-51 Mustang- "Fragile but Agile"
F-16 Fighting Falcon- 91-0398 SW

P-51 Mustang- "Fragile but Agile"
F-4 Phantom II- 237 TD
F-22 Raptor- 09-4172 FF

And another flight that left afterwards that I missed. Sad face.


Saturday March 5

F-22 Raptor- 08-171 FF
F-16 Fighting Falcon- 89-2083 HL
P-51 Mustang- "Fragile but Agile"
P-38 "Thoughts of Midnight"

F-4 Phantom II- 74-1627 HD
F-16 Fighting Falcon- 92-8923 SW
P-51 Mustang- "February"
P-40 Warhawk- Planes of Fame 79

A-10 Thunderbolt II- 80-0278 DM
P-51 Mustang- "February"
F-22 Raptor- 08-171 FF

P-38 Lightning- "Thoughts of Midnight"
P-51 Mustang- "Fragile but Agile"
F-4 Phantom II- 74-1627 HD
F-16 Fighting Falcon- 89-2083 HL

F-4 Phantom II- 74-1638 TD
F-16 Fighting Falcon- 92-8923 SW
P-51 Mustang- "February"
P-40 Warhawk- Planes of Fame 79

As you can see, there were a lot of planes in a lot of combinations which equals a lot of images. Here's a very, very small sample. And a big shout out to the new friends we made over the two days, it was great hanging out with you all! Please excuse my whispry Clint Eastwood voice, I'm just now able to speak after a nasty bout with the laryngitis gremlins.

On the edge... growing pains at D-M.

You know how you feel when someone tells you things will be uncomfortable but later on life will be much, much better? You know, that little sick feeling in your tummy?

Well, that's how things are right now for the local (and visiting) spotter to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. DM is preparing to re-surface their 12,643-foot runway next month and to get ready for that they're shortened the runway by 3,000 feet. Still a nice long runway but the end they shortened was on the end where the best photography is for aircraft landing on runway 12. Aircraft now come in higher (bad) and break much earlier for final (bad as well) making for, well.... less than flattering images. Unless you like bellies, then this will be the place to be!

Now normally I'm a roll-with-the-punches kind of guy but this is no ordinary weekend. This is Heritage Flight Conference weekend. Heritage Flight is the coupling of current Air Force jet aircraft with older jet or prop aircraft and they meet annually to practice their routines and work out the kinks for the upcoming airshow season. This will be my first and last Heritage Flight Conference. Last year I was on the runway at NAF El Centro, California (love you guys!) and next year I'll be in Japan.

So enjoy a collection of undersides. I'm sure it will all be worth it when it's over. Right?

A-10C Warthog landing with an engine malfunction and the emergency crews on alert.

Colorful Navy trainer.

Eglin A-10C that can fly on biofuel. Note probe on nose.

Viper West demo team bird diving for the runway.

If you have to shoot a belly-shot, this is the one to do it on! QF-4E in SE Asia colors from Holloman AFB.